Vaughan Williams: The symphonies

[richardfinegold]

I think 'free thinkers' rather than necessarily atheists in any modern sense (they were probably all baptised into the Church of England). Erasmus Darwin was of the same mould as Thomas Jefferson - a central figure of the Age of Reason - and he and Jefferson certainly weren't believers in any recognisable sense. But Charles's wife, Emma, was certainly a devout Anglican (one reason why Darwin was hestitant to publish On the Origin of Species). As for RVW, he is usually described as an agnostic - but Ursula insisted he was more like the 'passionate atheist' he had been called at Oxford - an interesting thing for a composer so much associated with church music.

Similar comments have been made about both Brahms and Beethoven in reference to their Symphonic Masses

[Pabmusic]

Similar comments have been made about both Brahms and Beethoven in reference to their Symphonic Masses

Very interesting.

[richardfinegold]

I picked up a used lp of Boult's Antartica today while browsing at my favorite used lp stores (Val's "Halla" in Oak Park, Il). I hadn't heard it in years. I really like his no nonsense approach, particularly effective in depicting the dry eyed desolation of the finale. The second movement is not quite as playful as Haitink, and no one surpasses Haitink in the glacier episode of III. Was RVW really 80 when he wrote this fantastic music? What an inspiration as I stand on the threshold of my dotage.

[Barbirollians]

I downloaded the 'mplive' version of the 1950 recording some time ago - if you navigate to the link you can listen to the first minute of each movement. It's certainly a 'different' performance; the first movement starts very slowly, but eventually picks up momentum. All movements are quite slow and lack the bite of RVW's own performance. Nevertheless, worth a listen.

Cheers Andrew . I am pretty sure I won't be able to resist it.

[EdgeleyRob]

I picked up a used lp of Boult's Antartica today while browsing at my favorite used lp stores (Val's "Halla" in Oak Park, Il). I hadn't heard it in years. I really like his no nonsense approach, particularly effective in depicting the dry eyed desolation of the finale. The second movement is not quite as playful as Haitink, and no one surpasses Haitink in the glacier episode of III. Was RVW really 80 when he wrote this fantastic music? What an inspiration as I stand on the threshold of my dotage.

It defies belief that a man in his 80's could have written those last 3 towering masterpieces.

[Pabmusic]

...Was RVW really 80 when he wrote this fantastic music?..

Not quite. It was composed between 1949 and 1952 (the music for Scott of the Antarctic is from 1948). RVW turned 80 on 12 October 1952.

This doesn't diminish the achievement, though. Just consider these, all composed after he was 75:

An Oxford Elegy
Fantasia on the 'Old 104th'
Concerto Grosso
The Sons of Light
The Pilgrim's Progress (in its final form)
Sinfonia Antarica
The Old Hundredth
Tuba Concerto
Hodie
Violin Sonata
Symphony No. 8
Epithalamion
Variations for Brass Band
Symphony No. 9
Ten Blake Songs
Four Last Songs

Plus scores for four films and one radio play.

[Nick Armstrong]

I've got the Boult (EMI), Handley, Haitink, Previn and Slatkin cycles ...
My favourites:

1. Haitink or Handley
2. Hickox
3. Previn (maybe?)
4. Berglund (or Haitink)
5. Handley or Previn
6. Davis (or Handley)
7. Haitink
8. Haitink
9. Haitink

I have the old Boult mono set (in its Belart form - and without the 9th as it was issued before it was written!). And thanks to this thread, I've just discovered I have the Haitink set!! I'd totally forgotten...

I have a lot of separate versions, and I think I would more or less agree with your list of preferences above, Parry

[Pabmusic]

I have the old Boult mono set (in its Belart form - and without the 9th as it was issued before it was written!). And thanks to this thread, I've just discovered I have the Haitink set!! I'd totally forgotten...

I have a lot of separate versions, and I think I would more or less agree with your list of preferences above, Parry

The 9th was recorded by Everest, not Decca - which explains why it's not included in the Belart reissues, since they were only of the Decca recordings. Presumably Universal bought the Everest recording to include in the Decca box.

Incidentally, this also explains why Boult makes specific mention of Americans in his short introduction to no. 9 - it was for the American market.

[litpage]

Thanks for an interesting thread! I am new to this site and am glad to have found it. You may already know this, but there is an increasingly active VW page on Facebook, founded by the RVW Society.

[BBMmk2]

Thank you for that link litpage. Iam on facebook so will look that up!!

Thank you Pabmusic for thgat list of woirks that composed after 75!! not a bad one at all.

If anyone doesnt know his Varaiaions for Brass Band, please look it up.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'm being picky (I know; yet again) but the works of RVW's final decades aren't remarkable for a man in his 80s - any thirty-year-old would give any of his/her limbs to be able to write a work of the calibre of the 7th, 9th, Pilgrim's Progress or even the 8th Symphony or Tuba Concerto! Mozart, Schubert, Chopin and all the "died-earlies" have perhaps led to the belief that old age somehow equals a falling off of powers. It ain't necessarily so: given good health, creativity can flourish past the centenary mark. (RIP, Elliott Carter)

[LeMartinPecheur]

I'm being picky (I know; yet again) but the works of RVW's final decades aren't remarkable for a man in his 80s - any thirty-year-old would give any of his/her limbs to be able to write a work of the calibre of the 7th, 9th, Pilgrim's Progress or even the 8th Symphony or Tuba Concerto! Mozart, Schubert, Chopin and all the "died-earlies" have perhaps led to the belief that old age somehow equals a falling off of powers. It ain't necessarily so: given good health, creativity can flourish past the centenary mark. (RIP, Elliott Carter)

I'm particularly interested in people like Janacek who really do very little in their early years then suddenly explode with radical creativity on the edge of old age.

I'm hoping to do so myself...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'm particularly interested in people like Janacek who really do very little in their early years then suddenly explode with radical creativity on the edge of old age.

I'm hoping to do so myself...

- You're not the only one, LMP!

[Pabmusic]

- You're not the only one, LMP!

I've waited all these years for that sudden explosion. I've now realised that it's already happened, and no-one noticed (not even me). Do you know Oscar Wilde's "The Remarkable Rocket"?

[visualnickmos]

.......Mozart, Schubert, Chopin and all the "died-earlies" have perhaps led to the belief that old age somehow equals a falling off of powers. It ain't necessarily so: given good health, creativity can flourish past the centenary mark. (RIP, Elliott Carter)

Absolutely, totally and utterly; point final!